Veterans Memorial Hospital announces plans to open local Family Medical Clinic in Waukon at former Mayo building
Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon has announced that Tuesday, November 3 the hospital Board of Trustees approved the plans to proceed with establishing a family medical clinic in Waukon. The former Mayo Clinic building, which is adjoined to and is now owned by Veterans Memorial Hospital, will be the site for this clinic.
“The Gundersen Waukon Clinic has done an amazing job trying to pick up as many patients as they possibly can following the closing of the Mayo Clinic last fall, but the truth is, there is just such a great demand for local primary care, they just can’t do it all,” states Michael Coyle, Chief Executive Officer of Veterans Memorial Hospital. “We see so many patients every day in our Urgent Care who just need to see a primary care provider for non-emergent care that could have been handled in a clinic setting. But because there is no other option, they come to urgent care, which does not make for good continuity of care.”
Use of the former clinic building has been divided into three phases with Phase 1 being the focus at this time. Area utilized in Phase 1 includes the main entrance area, 12 patient exam rooms, one procedure room, three bathrooms, a financial counselor’s office, the nurse’s station and receptionist area, clinic manager office, provider’s offices and room for telehealth specialty services. Laboratory and X-ray services will be provided by the existing hospital departments. The far west section of the clinic will not be utilized in this first phase of the clinic project and has been slotted as a future phase 2 project. The lower level of the building would be considered phase 3.
“Even in these difficult times, we do have a growth mentality and are focused on meeting the needs of our community,” adds Coyle. “As we look at expanding primary care options in this region, we will have an innovative approach in expanding our services as well as developing partnerships to attract a variety of specialty providers.”
Primary care, family practice medical providers will be recruited to utilize this clinic space. Plans are to initially house a family practice physician and one or two nurse practitioners in the clinic, and there are further hopes to recruit a behavioral health specialist in the near future.
“We will add additional providers as needed to meet the growing needs of the patients. We plan to have this clinic up and running by spring,” states Coyle. “Until that time, we will continue our daily urgent care clinics from 5-7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.”
